Early data show 2015 Obamacare-related premium increases to be significant, but not as bad as feared

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Early data indicates that some people will face health insurance sticker shock next year, but that fears of widespread, double-digit premium increases related to the Affordable Care Act are overblown.

Virginia and Washington insurers have notified regulators of proposed premiums for 2015 and insurers in several more states are expected to do so this week. MSNBC and The Wall Street Journal report that Anthem HealthKeepers, a major insurer in Virginia, plans to increase premiums an average of 8.5 percent. The increases for Anthem customers will range from 0.5 percent to 16.6 percent, the Journal reports.

In Washington state Molina Healthcare plans a decrease in premiums averaging 6.8 percent, though most insurers plan increases ranging on average from 0.57 percent to 14.2 percent, MSNBC and the Journal report.